Mornin’ Politocadoes!
Special Counsel Robert Hur is in final discussions about appearing before a House GOP panel to answer questions about his probe into Biden’s handling of documents. Republicans are more likely interested in having Hur there to discuss his comments on Biden’s age and memory; a unique opportunity to paint a picture about Biden’s fitness for office.
Hur had released a report on Biden’s handling of documents that he retained from his time as Vice President. While choosing not to charge the President for a number of reasons, he also made a number of comments about Biden’s mental acuity. Citing instances, callously to my view, like the President not remembering when his son Beau died. The White House and Congressional Democrats have since been scrambling to assure voters that there’s nothing wrong with Biden. Ironically, these efforts have not included the man himself to any sufficient degree.
Hur is a Trump era appointee and has reached out to colleagues from that time as he prepares for his testimony. Hur will likely appear before the House Judiciary Committee and be asked to judge the Biden administration’s characterization of his report. Meanwhile, Biden himself has been outraged by the results of the report, feeling that any personal questions like, say, Beau’s death wasn’t “any of their damn business”. There is some unverified reporting from NBC News that Biden himself brought up Beau, but it’s not clear where that came from.
Disputes like this will put pressure on the Biden Administration to released the 5 hour transcripts of Biden’s interview with the special counsel from October 8th and 9th. Hmm, the 8th and 9th. What happened on October 7th that could possibly have been occupying Biden’s headspace?
In any case, this feeling that the report was a political hit-job has led to Biden’s team crafting a counter-narrative of Hur as an aggressive Trump-appointed prosecutor out to target Biden during an election year.
Now, all of this can be true. Biden’s performance in testimony could have been better, Hur could have been out to get him. But at the end of the day, people have the right to question his fitness for office, especially as Biden and Trump remain the oldest people to ever run for President. It is worrying hearing these sorts of reports because at some level, we know that there’s some grain of truth in it. That doesn’t make me less likely to vote for him. Biden is still objectively the best option.
But the onus of proving that fitness remains on Biden and his team. Trump can bluster his way past any of this waving one of his dumb mental acuity tests, but for his base…this works. He’s out there saying complete nonsense, but the energy at least makes his voters feel at ease. Biden has to get out in front of this. Lack of energy, lack of enthusiasm, justifiable anger at some of his policies, these are what will keep people at home in November. Turnout is what is most important. Always, always, always.
Welcome to Thursday! Please be excellent to each other in the comments. The Mayor McSquirrel Rule remains in effect. Something to keep in mind! Police are using digital data to prosecute abortion seekers, and Facebook and Google are helping them! Even if they are not legally required to do so, the tech giants will aid them in this since it’s technically *against the law*. Please be careful when looking for abortion providers or helping someone who is looking for that assistance.
The Covid-19 pandemic continues even if the emergencies end, continue to vaccinate using the latest version of the FDA approved vaccines by Phizer and Moderna. Even if you are vaccinated, please continue to maintain social distancing measures, wear masks in public areas in accordance with CDC guidelines in regard to your own vaccination status.
Also, according to recent polls approximately 50% of adults are not planning on getting their Covid-19 boosters. So please get them and older adults should also look to be vaccinated for RSV! It’s been difficult to get adults onboard with getting the RSV shots as it is. Remember that getting these shots could potentially keep thousands of Americans who do not have to be there out of the ICU this winter.